Illuminated weighing-scale



S. G. CRANE.

ILLUMINATED WEIGHIN'G SCALE.. APPLICATION FILED AUG.22|1917.

1,356,602. Patented Oct 26, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WwW/MAM 5d/210e? 6.' Crane,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL G. CRANE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, OFTOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ILLUMINATED WEIGHING-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

Application filed August 22, 1917. Serial No. 187,600.

Automatic scales are gradually supplanting the old-fashioned beam scalesand yet attempt is being made to utilize the automatic scales in darkwarehouses and shipping rooms wherein had been installed the earlierscales which did not have reading dials. It has therefore been necessaryto provide some means for illuminating the dial at the time of reading,both to enable the operator to read the scale with the same celeritywith which the weighing was performed and to prevent accidental errorsin reading. The difficulties of constructing a simple and efficientscale with effective lighting facilities are numerous and variousattempts to illuminate dial scales for the same purpose have not provedentirely satisfactory. Thus in many of the scales hitherto constructedthe heat of the lights employed has been instrumental in warping orotherwise interfering with the proper adjustment of the indicating chartand associated portions of the scale mechanism, and when attempt is madeto remove the lights a sufficient distance from the readily warped partsto partially avoid the overheating thereof the rays of the light werenot properly distributed over the chart itself. Also, ifA the lamps areso placed as to directly throw their rays upon the reading chart, theresult is a number of light spots on the chart, between which are asimilar number of dark spots, owing to the uneven radiation of theillumination.

The primary object of this invention is to overcome the difficultiesenumerated and provide a simple, compact and efficient means forilluminating the scale dial at the time the weighing operation isperformed, while providing an even method of distributing theillumination indirectly upon the chart. Another object is to place thelamps out of the line of view of the operator but in'position to bereadily adjusted whenever necessary. A further object is to provide anilluminating means that can be attached to a. weighing scale withoutrequiring extensive changes therein, so that the installations can, ifdesired, be made directly in the field.

lith the above and other objects in View which will more readily appearas the inventlon is better understood, my invention consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating apreferred embodiment of my invention, and wherein similar referencenumerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings Figure l is a front elevation of the reading portion ofa scale equipped with my inventlon;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the arrangement of theilluminating lamps; and

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the dial and associatedportions.

F ig. 4 is a fragmentary View showing a reflector adjusting device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the dial of thescale, upon which are marked the weight indications or graduations, and6 designates the indicator hand or pointer which cooperates with theweight indications upon the dial 5 so as to indicate the weight of anycommodity weighed upon the scale. The dial 5 is suitably supported inposition within the housing 7 of the scale,

which housing is preferably mounted upon the upper end of a column 8,the lower end of which rests upon the platform (not shown) of the scale.The indicator hand is preferably mounted adjacent the end of theindicator shaft, which is mounted centrally of the dial and carries apinion l() adapted to mesh with a vertically disposed reciproeating rack11 suitably connected with the weighing mechanism of the scale so as torotate the pinion an angular distance proportionally to the displacementof the loadoffsetting mechanism.

It is to be understood that the Weighing mechanism of the scale may beot any approved type, and that the means ot actuating the raclr over theweighing mechanism may be 03": any desired form, various weighingmechanisms well lnown in the scale art being fully capable ot performingthe required functions. rilhe embodiment herein illustrated is one thathas been found to successfully demonstrate the capabilities of theinvention, amdV shows a pendulum scale ot a well-known type adapted tovertically reoiprocatc the raclr upon the displacement oit the pendulummechanism, the rack meshing with the pinion operating` the indicatorhand, and suitable connecting means being interposed between theplatform supporting levers and the pendulum load-offsetting mechanism toswing the pendulums 12 ui wardly upon the placing et load upon the scaleplatform. lnasmuchas the present invention is not dependent upon anyparticular term ot scale mechanism, no attempt is made in thisapplication to show complete scale mechanism nor to delineate the actionoi? the scale in its load-offsetting or weighing operations; only somuch of the scale mechanism being shown as is necessary to portray theposition and operation of the indicating portions ot the scale at thetime they are illuminated through my improved illuminating means.

ln the embodiment herein illustrated., the oppositely-disposed pendulums12 are connected by crossbars 13, which crossbars moved verticallyupward as the pendulums are displaced outwardly, and are lowered as thependulums return to their normal positions, The rack ll may be,therefore, conveniently attached to these crossbars 13 and is preferablyso arranged. Each ot the pendulums l2 comprises a weighted arm andsupporting and operating segments which are arranged substantially asshown in the patent to hlapgood, No. 1,203,611, issued November 7, 1916.Fixed on the indicator shaft 9 adjacent rear extremity is a disk lllhaving a pin arranged to contact the suspended switch arm 17 of theilluminating means. The normal position of the pin and pendent switcharm is shown in 2 ot the drawings, an d when the indicator shaft 9 isrotated through the movement ot the raclr and pin-- ion the pin 15 willbe moved away from the pendent switch arm and permit said arm to swinginto contact with the stationary switch arm 18, thus completing acircuit to energize the illuminating lampsv lt will thus be understoodthat as long as the scale is not being used the circuit is open and thelampsextinguished, but instantly upon the movement ot the indicatingmeans through the weighing mechanism the circuit is completed and thelights automatically illuminated, and remain so until the incassa loadis removed from the scale plattorm to permit the pendulums to return totheir normal positions.

rEhe wiring system within the scale tor connecting the electric lamps 19with the batteries or other source ot current is shown in lrEigs. 2 and3, and comprises a wire leading from the pendent spring arm l? of theswitch to the several lamps which may be connected in any manner, as,for example, in series or multiple, and thence is connected with oneterminal ot the connecting post 2O through which connection may be madeto the city circuit, a series ot dry cells, or any other desired sourceof current. The other post may be directly connested with the stationaryswitch arm 18, which arm carries an adjustable post 16 so arrangedcontact with the pendent switch arm 17 can be as early or as late in theweighing operation as desired. il. portable service plug oit anyapproved construction may be used to bridge the posts of the connectingplug 20 Each of the electric lamps 19 are preferably mounted. in sockets22 an ranged to be adjusted toward orfrom the center ot the dial 5, anydesired adjusting means, such as elongated slots and set screws, beingemployed. rFliese lamps project slightly within the inner portionvo'i-thc chart 5, which chart, as can be seen in F ig. 3, is preferablyformed as a narrcwring and with a fiance 28 arranged at right angles tothat portion of the chart bearing the indicating numerals. This flangemay be made separate from the dial itself and acts as a reitlector ashereinafter described. Ain ranged within and in iront of the'chart 5 isredector 24 preferably termed as a sul stantially conical ring with itsrear surface shaped and arranged to reflect the light trom the lamps 19onto the indicating cha-rt. rThis surtacemay, it desired, be curved todirect the luminous rays more evenly upon the indicating chart and maybe coated with aluminum paint or other bright substances. lnrovision ismade for securing the reflector substantially concentrically t the chart5 by elongated screws or bolts 3() tapped into the framework ot thescale, whereby the reflector may be positioned at any desired positionin advance of the chart to properly distribute the light. The indicatorhand, as is apparent trom Fig. 3, is shaped so as to clear the conica1reflector 24e at all times and carries a rearwardly projecting readingvwire 25 adapted to ei.:- tend into close proximity ith the graduationson the dial 5. Y

ln operation, when the scale is installed, a service plug is arrangedacross the terminals ot the connecting post 20 connecting the source oitcurrent with the illuminating means. lWhenever a load is being weighedthe pendulums swing outwardly, lifting the rack 11, which through thepinion 10 rotates the indicator hand 6 to show the weight of thecommodity on the scale platform, and also rotates the disk 14 to swingthe pin 15 away from the pendent switch arm 17, thus permitting thependent arm to swing into contact with the stationary switch post 16 andcomplete the circuit to energize the illuminating lamps 19. Whenilluminated, these lamps project their luminous rays against the rearinclined surface of the reflector 24 and these are reflected to thegraduated portion of the chart, causing an even distribution of indirectlight. As soon as the commodity is removed from the scale platform thependulums fall to their original positions, returning the indicator handto zero and the pin 15 into contact with the pendent arm 17, forcing thesaid arm away from the stationary post 16 and breaking the circuit.

It will be apparent that the reflector 24 effectively covers theilluminating lamps and prevents their rays coming into direct contactwith the eyes ofthe operator, and at the same time breaks up anddistributes the luminous rays so as to avoid the alternate light anddark spots of direct illumination. Also if, as shown in Fig. 3, the rearportion of the scale is provided with a transparent portion, means maybe provided for preventing the rays of the lamps directly projectingthrough such window. In the illustrated embodiment a substantiallyconical shield 27 is arranged adjacent the rear portion of the dialcasing'so as to protect the window 28 from the direct rays of the lamps.

From the above it will be seen that the illustrated embodiment of myinvention provides a means well calculated to adequately fulfil theobjects primarily stated. The construction is, however, susceptible ofmodification without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in. the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination in a weighing scale having a chart, of means adaptedto indicate weights in conjunction with the chart, a reflector arrangedin advance of the chart and with its outer surface overlapping a portionof the chart, and illuminating means arranged in the rear of the chartand reflector in position to project their luminous rays indirectly uponthe forward face of the chart and adapted to be so adjusted that nodirect rays are projected between the adjacent edges of the chart andreflector.

2. The combination in a weighing scale having a chart, of means adaptedto indicate weights in conjunction with the chart, a reflector arrangedcentrally and in ad` Vance of the chart and having its outer edgeportion overlapping the inner portion of the lamps arranged in spacedrelation in rear of the reflector and chart in position to project theirluminous rays indirectly upon the chart and adapted to be so adjustedthat no direct rays are projected between the adjacent edges of thechart and reflector, and means for illuminating said lamps when thescale is in operation.

4. The combination in a weighing scale having a chart, of means forindirectly illuminating said chart when the scale is in operation,comprising a reflector arranged in advance of and substantiallyconcentrically with the chart, a series of electric lamps arrangedannularly in the rear of the reflector and chart in position to projecttheir luminous rays indirectly upon the chart and adapted to be soadjusted that no direct rays are rojected between the adjacent edges ofthe chart and reflector, and means for illuminating the lamps when thescale is operated.

5. The combination in a weighing scale having an annular chart, of meansfor indirectly illuminating said chart when the scale is in operation,comprising a reflector arranged in advance of and substantiallyconcentrically with the chart and having its outer periphery overlappingthe inner portion of the chart, a series of electric lamps arrangedannularly in the rear of the reflector and chart and adapted to be soadjusted that no direct rays are projected between the adjacent edges ofthe chart and reflector in position to'project their luminous raysindirectly upon the chart, and means for illuminating the lamps when thescale is operated.

6. The combination in a weighing scale having a chart, of means forindirectly illuminating said chart when the scale is in operation,comprising a reflector arranged in advance of and substantiallyconcentrically with the chart, the rear Surface of the reflector beinginclined from its central portion to its periphery and at its outerperiphery overlapping a portion of the chart, a series of electric lampsarranged annularly in the rear of the reflector and chart and adapted tobe so adjusted that no direct rays are projected between the adjacentedges of the chart and reflector in position to project their luminousrays indirectly upon the chart, and means for illuminating the lampsWhen the scale is operated.

'7. rEhe combination in a Weighing scale haring a chart, of means forindirectly illuminating the chart during the Weighing operation,comprising a reflector arranged in advance of the chart and adapted tobe adjustably positioned toward or from the chart to Variably dii'usetheluminousv rays cast thereon, and a series of electric lamps arranged inrear of the reflector and chart to project their luminous rays upon therellector and thence upon the chart, said lamps being` adjustableto'positions in which no direct rays are projected between the adjacentedges of the reflector and chart.

8. The combination in a Weighing scale having an annular chart, of meansfor indirectly illuminating the chart during,- the Weighing` operation,comprising an annular inclinedV reflector arranged in advance of thechart and adapted to be adjustably positioned toward or from the chartto variably diffuse the luminous rays cast thereon, and

lii,escena an annular series of electric lamps arranged in rear of thereflector and chart to project their luminous rays upon the reflectorand thence upon the chart.

9. rlhe combinationl in a Weighing scale havinga chart, of means forindirectly illuminating the chart during the Weighing operation,comprising a reflector arranged in advance of the chart and adapted tobe adj ustably positioned toward or from the chart to Variably diffusethe luminous rays cast thereon, a series of electric lamps arranged inrear of the reflector and chart to project their luminous rays upon thereflector and thence upon the chart, said lamps being adjustablet'opositions in Which no direct rays are projected between thefadjacentedges of the reflector and chart, and a reflectingring arranged at rightangles to the chart beyond the indicating portion thereof.

SAMUEL e. ennuie] Witnesses :v

C. H. HPGOOD, F. A. CROWLEY.

